Children’s Day celebrates the strengths and culture of our children and the theme this year is Celebrating our Children for 30 years.

Aboriginal Affairs may not have ‘children’ in our name, but the work we do has a profound impact on the lives and aspirations of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people. The Aboriginal Centre for Excellence will help shape the future of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people in Western Sydney by creating opportunities to connect to community and culture and education and employment opportunities. Likewise, the work we are doing to establish the Aboriginal Languages Act will support children and young people to learn a First Language.

Families and communities can celebrate Children’s Day by taking part in a local event found here or run their own event.

International Day of the World’s Indigenous Peoples is held to promote and protect the rights of Indigenous populations across the world. The date marks the day of the first meeting, in 1982, of the UN Working Group on Indigenous Populations of the Sub-Commission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights. The theme for this year is Indigenous peoples’ migration and movement to highlight the root causes of migration, movement and displacement of Indigenous peoples, with a focus on their settlement in urban environments and across International borders.

By supporting Aboriginal people across NSW on their journey towards healing, to learn and practice language and culture and to access education and employment opportunities on country or in their communities, our work helps to address many of the issues experienced by Aboriginal people who through past Government policies and practices have been displaced from their country, their families and communities.

The NSW Aboriginal Land Rights Act 1983 has been internationally recognised as unique and powerful land rights legislation. Strengthening the self-determinative, and democratic basis of the Aboriginal Land Council network is a key aspect of our work to build community resilience and prosperity. Our involvement in Aboriginal Land Rights which allows Aboriginal people to achieve social, cultural and economic aspirations through access, management and ownership of land is a direct example of the difference your work makes.

Children’s Day and IDWIP are significant dates, but they also serve to remind us of the important work we do, all we have achieved and all that we have to do.